HON. ROBERT L. COLEMAN. It is the men of broad and comprehensive views who give life to communities and build cities-men who have foresight and energy, pluck and push to forward their enterprises and still retain an untarnished reputation through it all. Such a man is Hon. Robert L. Coleman, now circuit clerk and recorder and ex-representative of Carter County. He was elected to his present responsible position in 1890 by the Democratic party, of which he is a zealous member. Previous to this, in 1886, he was elected school commissioner, held that position two years, and was elected to represent the county in the Thirty-fifth General Assembly of the State. At present he is a candidate for the office of circuit clerk and recorder, with fair prospects of success. Mr. Coleman is a young man who was born in Carter County, Missouri, August 17, 1863.
Son of Francis M. and Adaline (Fancher) Coleman, natives of Tennessee. His grandparents, William and Nancy (Hackett) Coleman, were probably natives of the Old North State, moving from there to Tennessee, and thence to Kentucky, where they remained until about 1859. They then moved to Carter County, Missouri, and there passed the closing scenes of their lives. William Coleman was a farmer and held the office of treasurer of Carter County for a number of years. Our subject’s maternal grandparents, Wesley and Celia Fancher, were natives of Tennessee, from whence they came to what is now Carter County nearly fifty years ago. There they passed the remainder of their days, dying before the war. Mr. Fancher was a farmer and millwright. Francis M. Coleman was born in Polk County, Tennessee, in 1836, and in 1859 came to Carter County, Missouri, with his parents. About the same year he was married to Miss Adaline Fancher, who is now about fifty years of age, and nine children were given them, as follows: William O., resides at McDonald; Jeff died young; Robert L., subject; Tennessee, who died in 1893, was the wife of Thomas W. Smith of this county; Charles W. resides at McDonald; Lizzie, died in August, 1889, was the wife of George W. Preston; Mary, single; Norman J., single; and Eva, who died when small: Mrs. Coleman is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Coleman has ever been a stanch Democrat in politics. He represented Carter County three times in the Legislature, and has been one of the most prominent men in the county.
Our subject passed his school days at Carleton Institute, St. Francois County, and at Concordia College in Wayne County, and when still quite young began teaching school. Early in life he was elected to public positions and for about eight years he has held offices in this county. He is an unspoiled child of good fortune. Wealth, power and adulation could never make him other than he is, a man who is of the people, not above them, possessing as he does the instincts of democracy to such a degree that they are a second nature to him, and his universal and exceptional popularity with all classes is the best evidence of that fact. He is one of the most prominent young men in his county, and is a strong supporter of Democratic principles. Fraternally he is a member of Van Buren Masonic Lodge, and is secretary of the same. Mr. Coleman selected his wife in the person of Miss Mary Rose, daughter of A. D. and Martha J. Rose of this county. Mr. Rose died in 1890. Mr. Coleman has made a good start in life, is a public-spirited young man, and his future prospects are bright.